Woman in Colorado Killed By Black Bear While Walking Her Dogs

Wildlife authorities confirmed that a Colorado woman walking her dogs was found dead near her home in what appears to be a bear attack.

Bear Attack

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Jason Clay, the body of the 39-year-old missing woman was found near Durango on Friday by her partner after she failed to return home. Hours earlier, the two dogs had returned to her house without her.

According to a CPW release, wildlife officers responded and found "signs of consumption on the fur, as well as an excess of bear scat and hair at the scene."

Forensic Report

Following an autopsy, an official cause of death will be determined.

The woman's identity was kept a secret. According to officials, while an autopsy was pending, authorities discovered bear hair, scat, and "signs of feeding" on the body.

A dog squad was immediately dispatched by CPW, who discovered a 10-year-old female black bear with two yearlings nearby. The remains of all three animals were euthanized and will be tested at the CPW's Wildlife Health Lab.

The bears' bodies were taken to the state wildlife laboratory for necropsy. A forensic laboratory in Wyoming will examine the DNA samples.

Colorado Black Bear Population

According to a state wildlife spokeswoman, Colorado is home to an estimated 19,000 black bears. The department has reported three other deadly black bear attacks on humans since it started monitoring them 61 years ago.

"This is a horrific occurrence that serves as a sad reminder that bears are wild and potentially dangerous," said Cory Chick, area manager for the state wildlife department. "The bears were removed for public safety reasons due to an excess of caution."

Colorado Bear Attacks

He described bear attacks as "extremely rare." In Colorado, the most recent deadly bear attack occurred in 2009.

The only bears seen in Colorado are black bears, who are named after their species rather than their color.

Black bears are involved in the spring, according to the spokesperson, and there have been some sightings near Durango. According to him, a bear was seen rummaging through a trash bin and pulling down a bird feeder outside a home near the Animas River.

Chick urged the public to stay away from the area while the CPW and La Plata County officials investigate. Wildlife officers worked all night and into the morning to process the scene, searching for proof that the attack was caused by a bear.

Several residents in the Durango region have registered bears this season, with one taking down a bird feeder, but this is the first attack.